The Plans I Have for You – STUDY GUIDE

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Icebreaker: Share a time when something did not go the way you wanted, but you later realized that God was at work in your life molding you for His purposes.

Sermon Title: Mold Me – “The Plans I Have for You” – Jeremiah 29

Group Discussion:

Read Jeremiah 29:4-14 – God will often give us what we want in order to give us what we need. What did the Israelites want that led to their captivity in Babylon, and how did God use their situation to give them what they truly needed? Discuss how we see God’s mercy toward the Israelites both at the beginning and at the end of their captivity. How can this apply to our lives today?

Read Psalm 139:17-18, Psalm 8:4, & Jeremiah 29:11 – God thinks about His people. How can knowing God’s thoughts toward us bring hope in seasons when we feel separated? Since God’s thoughts toward us are “precious,” how should that influence our faith and trust in Him today?

Read John 14:27 & Hebrews 12:11 – God is for His people. Why do you think God allows us to go through painful seasons instead of removing all hardship immediately? Discuss how God’s promise of peace can coexist with the painful process of discipline. How can we experience this peace?

Read Jeremiah 29:4-7, 29:10, & 29:14 – There is a future after failure. How do these verses demonstrate that our failure does not have to be the end of the story? Discuss “hope” in how God can “bring us back” from a situation caused by our own mistakes or disobedience; share an example.

Read Jeremiah 31:19, Acts 3:19, & James 1:22 – Our response: Repentance and Responsibility. How can understanding God’s compassion and mercy toward Israel make repentance easier for us; can it motivate or give us hope? Discuss strategies for how we can overcome barriers in this process of taking responsibility for our rebellion, asking for forgiveness, and turning away from sin.

Spiritual Discipline: Review additional resources for this sermon series on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources

Action Steps: (1) Remember God’s Faithfulness: Write down three ways God has shown you that He has not forgotten you, (2) Pray Specifically: End each day this week with this prayer, “Lord, where do I need to take responsibility and turn back to you,” and (3) Encourage Others: Check in with a friend who may be in a “Babylon” season and remind them of God’s promises that we see in this study.